Research Project Title

Presenter Information

Faculty Sponsor

Helen Smith-Flores, Gonzaga University

Research Project Abstract

This research lab is interested in several questions related to the study of Huntington’s Disease (HD); specially how this neurodegenerative disease affects circadian rhythm genes and alters the sleep-wake cycle and motor function in Drosophila melanogaster. To test these questions we used a locomotion assay and circadian rhythm assay to analyze the progression of the HD phenotypes. We first tested our control line, the UAS-hHtt16Q stock, which are transgenic flies with the non-disease causing form of the protein. After identifying the behavioral phenotypes, we attempted to identify base-line expression of the circadian rhythm gene, period. Additionally, we have treated these flies with a histone deacetylase inhibitor to test the effect of global changes in gene expression on our phenotypes. The next phase of this research is to replicate this testing with the disease causing form of hHtt and if HDAC inhibitors will rescue these phenotypes.

Session Number

PS2

Location

Graves Gym

Abstract Number

PS2-i

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How does Huntington's Disease Alter Circadian Rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster

Graves Gym

This research lab is interested in several questions related to the study of Huntington’s Disease (HD); specially how this neurodegenerative disease affects circadian rhythm genes and alters the sleep-wake cycle and motor function in Drosophila melanogaster. To test these questions we used a locomotion assay and circadian rhythm assay to analyze the progression of the HD phenotypes. We first tested our control line, the UAS-hHtt16Q stock, which are transgenic flies with the non-disease causing form of the protein. After identifying the behavioral phenotypes, we attempted to identify base-line expression of the circadian rhythm gene, period. Additionally, we have treated these flies with a histone deacetylase inhibitor to test the effect of global changes in gene expression on our phenotypes. The next phase of this research is to replicate this testing with the disease causing form of hHtt and if HDAC inhibitors will rescue these phenotypes.